Apparatus for ascertaining the condition of pipe-conduits.



PATENTBD FEB. 24, 1903.

No. 721,476. I K. lE. STUART. f APPARATUS TOP. ASGBRTAINING THE CONDITION 0T TIPI: c0NDUITs.

AISPLICATION FILED JUNE i6. 1900.

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THE annals PETERS co., PHOTO-Limo., WASHINGTUN, D. c.

PATENTBD TBB. 24,1903. K. E. STUART. APPARATUS FOR ASGBRTAINING THE CONDITION 0T PIPE- GONDUITS.

yACE'ILIATION. FILED 4JUNE 16, 1900.

5 SHEETS-SHEET z.

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- APPLICATION FILED TUNIS 16, 1900.

l F0 MODEL. l y 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTEDTBBpzA, 1903.

1LT. STUART. APPARATUS PoR ASGBRTAINING THE CONDITION 0F PIPE CONDUITS.

APPLIOATIQN FILED JUNE 16, 1900.

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.mv @E n q.. A# LS L .ma @NSE EN JN0. 721,476. PATENTDD P51124, 1903.

l 1I. D. STUART. f APPARATUS POR ASODR'IAINING THD OONDITIO'N O1" PIPE OONDUITS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 1e, 1900. No MODEL. Y Mmmm-sunms.

V/ITNESSES l JNVE A @Inf @55g Magg UNITED STATES;

'PATENT Orricn.

THE BATCHELLER PNEUMATIC TUBE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, v

PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE CONDITION 0F PIPE-CONDUITS'.

SPECIFIGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 721,476, dated February 24, 1903.

Application tiled June 16, 1900. Serial No. 20,514. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, KENNETH E. STUART, a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding in the city and county of Philadelphia,

in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Ascertaining the Condition of Pipe-Conduits, of whichthe following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart thereof.

My invention relates to apparatus having for its purpose to enable an operator to asi certain the condition of pipe-conduits, particularly pneumatic-tube lines, my apparatus being particularly designed for the detection of leaks in such conduits, but adapted also to show with considerable accuracy the presence of inequalities and rough places in the line.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and eflicient apparatus of this character; and the leading feature of my invention consists in the use of a diaphragm 'situ-y ated between two chambers, both of which' are in communication with the pipeconduit, in combination with means by whichthe vibrations of the diaphragm are made apparent to the senses.

My apparatus is adapted to be connected for in the construction of the apparatus and preferably also by'regulable mechanism by which the force of the vibrations passing to one chamber can be regulated.

My invention also consists in various mechanical devices adapted for developing the principle above stated and forproducing the 2 is an end View of the apparatus, taken on the irregular section-line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the apparatus, taken on the section-line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a crosssectional View through the film-casing and end of the apparatus, taken as on the sectionline 4 4 of' Fig. l. Fig'. 5 is a sectional view taken as on the section-line 5 5 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a diagram matic view illustrating the light-rays and the manner in which they are thrown upon the photographic film. Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic Views illustrating the mode ot' detection of leaks in pneumatictransit pipes. Fig. 9is a plan view of the record made upon lthe photographic film, and Fig. l0 is asectional elevation of a modification of my apparatus.

A, Figs; l, 2, 3, 4:, 5, 7, and 8,- indicates a box orV casing employed in `the preferred form of my apparatus and having, as shown,

a circular aperture A through its front wall,

another circular aperture A2 in its rear wall, in which is also formed a longitudinal slot, (indicated at A3,) A4 indicating a circular aperture in the front wall, and A5 and A6 projections from the bottom of the box or casing. B, (see Figs. l and 3) is an air-chamber inclosed, as shown, in the casing Aand having short pipe-sections or thimbles, as indicated at B B2, leading into it.

C is a pipe which is intended to be connected with the pipe-conduit, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. This pipe is formed with two branches CandGz, the branch `C2 beinlgcon` trolled as to its opening by a regulating-cock, (indicated at O3.)

'C4 and C5 are annular castings which ,are

secured together at their rims, as indicated in Fig. l, and secured in the circular aperture A of the box A. The castings are shaped, as shown, so as to form a lens-shaped chamber between them, and the casting C5 is formed with an outwardly-projecting externally-threaded flange, (indicated at 06,) also with a shorter internally-threaded flange, (indicated at 07,) CS indicating the clampingring screwing on the externally -threaded fiange C, and C9 indicating a short pipesection screwing into the internally-threaded flange C7.

D is a flexible diaphragm secured between the annular castings C2 and C5 and dividing the lens-shaped chamber formed by these castings into two chambers, (indicated at CX and BX.)

D' indicates a finger projecting from the inner face of the diaphragm D and resting in contact with a mirror (indicated at D2) supported on a spring, (shown at D3.)

D4 is a transparent glass plate clamped on the end of the projection C5 by means of the clamping-ring C8.

E and E', Fig. 1, indicate pipe-sections, as shown rubber hose, coupling the pipe branch C2 to the thimble B' and the short pipe C9 to the thimble B2.

F F and F2 F3 indicate lamps adapted to throw rays of light into the casingA through the apparatus to be described, the lamp F F throwing its ray of light into a tube G, secured in the aperture A2 and which, as shown, has fitted in its outer end a tube-section G',

having an external flange g', into the outer end of which lits another tube-section G2, having an annular flange g2, the tube-section G2 being transversely slotted to give passage to a slide G7, having a narrow vertical slot formed in it, as indicated at Q7, and the tubesection G2 is made longitudinally adjustable in the tube-section G', so that the slide can be held in place between the anges g' and g2.

Grs is a tube-section fitting on the slide on the inner end of the tube G and having secured to it, as shown, another pipe-section G4, against the outerend of which is clamped a lens G6 by means of' a clamping-ring G5.

H (see Figs. l to 4) is a wooden block secured against the rear face of the casing A and having formed in it a chamber or recess H', corresponding to and registering with the slotted opening A3 in the rear of the casing. The block H is also longitudinally slotted, as indicated at H2, to receive a slide l, having` a horizontal narrow slit I' formed in it, H3 indicatinga backing,which may conveniently be of black velvet, which is secured to the inner portion of' the slit H2 and in contact with which moves the slide I.

H4 H4 indicate recesses formed in the outer face of the block H, over which project metallic lugs, (indicated at h4.) It should be mentioned that the slot H2 is enlarged in the interior of the block, as indicated at H5, so as to aord room for the passage of a photographic film, (indicated at H5,) which enters and leaves the slots through openings (indicated at 715 h5) in the rear face of the block.

J indicates a rectangular box supporting rolls, (indicated at J' J',) also guide-rolls, (in

dicated at J2 J2,) the film H6 being wound on the rolls J' and passing over the guide-rolls J2 on its way to and from the slot H5, as shown in Fig. 4t.

J3 indicates a crank-arm by which one of the rolls J' can be revolved and the film caused to move through the slot.

K indicates the outer lid or cover of the boX, which is provided with metallic fingers (indicated at K') having an outward spring and adapted to fit under the metal lugs h4, as shown. When these fingers are engaged with the lugs, the film-box J is securely held in position and tightly closed against the admission of light.

L is a tube fitting into the annular opening A4 and having a telescopic extension fitting over its inner end, in which is held a lens L4, secured in place by a clamping-ring L3.

L5 is a head screwing on the outer end of the tube L and having a narrow slot formed in it, as indicated at Z5, which should he vertical, as indicated.

M (see Figs. l, 3,' and 5) is a boxin which is supported a pivot M', upon which is pivoted an arm M2, supporting a screen M3, which is adapted to rock from a position covering the slot Z5 to a position to one side of said slot.

M4 is an electromagnet by which the arm M2 is drawn to a position which will move the screen away from the slot, a spring, as indicated at M5, serving to draw it back to normal position covering the slot, stop m5 holding the screen or shutter in proper position. The electromagnet M4 is connected with an electrical circuit, (indicated at M7,) yM8 indicating the battery, and M5 a pendulum,which, as indicated, is intended to be a second pendulum and which forms a part of the circuit supporting a point m5, which at each swing of the pendulum comes in contact with a button M6, completing the circuit.

N, Figs. 7, S, and l0, indicates a pneumatic-transit line connected with my apparatus through pipe C, as shown, fn in Figs. 7 and S indicating leaks or openings in the conduits, and O O indicating carriers moving in the conduits in the direction of the arrows; P, in Fig. 9, a portion of the photographic film with the record made by my apparatus upon it, P' indicating a series of dots indicating time, P2 an unbroken line formed bythe effect of a ray reflected from the glass plate D4, and P3 a line formed on the film bythe action of the ray reflected from the mirror D2.

In Fig. lO l have illustrated a modification of my apparatus in which the record is received by ear., In this construction the annular cone-shaped casting Cl is secured di rectly to the air-box, (here indicated at lf2) which in this construction takes the place of both the air-box B and the chamber BX. D indicates the diaphragm situated between the chamber c and the chamber bx. d' is a metallic finger secured at one edge of the diaphragm, but out of electrical contact with it. d2 indicates a platinum button supported on the finger d', and resting against the diaphragm (Z3 is a metallic finger su pporting a IOD IIO

IZO

carbon button d4, which rests against the platinum button d2. p indicates an electric circuit connecting with the finger CZ' and'd, p indicating a battery, p2 a switch, p3 an induction-coil, and p4 a telephonie receiver.

In operation of my preferred visual recording apparatus the lights (indicated at F F and F2 F3) are lighted, the iirst light throwing through the slit g7 of the slide Gr7 a vertical ray of light against and through therglass plate D4 and against the mirror D2. This ray is reected from both the glass plate and the mirror, as indicated in Fig. 6, the light reflected from the plate being indicated at Q and the light reflected from the mirror being indicated at Q, the dotted line (also marked Q) indicating theeifect lof vibrations in the mirror. The ray from the lamp F2 Fthrown through the vertical slit Z5, is indicated at Q2 in Fig. 6, and the time-escapement operating the shutter orl screen M3 being in operation the light-ray Q2 will only be thrown intermittently on the film H6, making when the film is moving a series of dots, (indicated at P, Fig. 9,) each of which marks the lapse of a second.

It will be obvious that all vibrations occurring in the conduit-line` N will be communicated to the tube C and through the branch C of said tube to the chamber Cxand the inner face of the diaphragm D. These vibrations, however, if not modified in scope and to some extent in character will not be of such a character as to be easily recorded; but obviously the same vibrations are indicated through the branch tube C2 and the air-chamber B and the pipe E tothe chamber BX and with an amplitude which can be nicely regulated by the cock C3. The motion of the diaphragm D, however, will be that resulting from the difference in the impulses communicated to the two chambers between which itis sit-uated,and these differential vibrations, so to speak, will still be of a character to nicely indicate the actual changes and-the character of vi-y 1 ceeding thefpassing of the leak do not eX- brations in the tube.

The necessary difference in the character of the vibrations communicated to the'opposite sides of the diaphragm D can be brought about by anymeans vwhichvwill bring about an inequality in the force of the vibrations communicated through the two conduits to the diaphragm, and in the construction illustrated this inequality is brought about by means of fourdiferentbut coacting devices, namely: in the first place, by the restriction of the passage in the conduit C2 by means of thepstop-cock C3; in the second place, by including in the conduit G2 a chamber, such as B, of greater area and capacity than any chamber directly connected with the conduit C; inthe third place, by directing the vibrations against the diaphragm in different directions-for instance, the conduit C being at right angles to the diaphragm and the conduit C9, forming the delivery endof the con- I duit C2, being at an acute angle to the diaphragm-and,in the fourth place,theeffective force of the vibrations will vary in accordance with the portion of the diaphragm upon which they directly impinge. Thus the vibrations communicated through conduit C act with greater force than those from conduits C2 C9, because the first impinge on thek center of the diaphragm andthe last near its outer edge. When the carrier passes a leak,

a-wave of rarefaction is sent traveling through the tube in the direction of the source of the air-supply and a wave of compression in the opposite direction. This may be explained as follows: While the carrier is passing through a smooth unbroken conduit the air coming from the source is always just sufficient to occupy the space displaced by the carrier.

After the leak is passed some of the air supplied at the source escapes through it. The

air that does not escape is not 'sufticient to occupy the space displaced by the carrier traveling at undiminished velocity. Consequently its velocity must diminish. Owing to the momentum of the carrier, however, such diminution of velocity requires an appreciable lapse of time, during which the pressure immediately behind thecarrier must fall somewhat. In other words, before the carrier can adjust itself to the new conditions it has opened up a region of comparative raretied air behind itself, and this region travels back to the source in the form of a wave. Before the carrier has reached the leak some of the air ahead of it escapes through the leak.

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After the carrier has passed the leak this exit is closed. Before-the carrier has adjusted itself to the new conditions it must, therefore, have caused a region of comparatively dense air ahead of itself, which region travels in the form of a wave through the conduit away from the source of air-supply.

It will be seen that the comparatively rareed region at the rear ofthe carrier and dense region ahead of it at the'instant sucist permanently, for within a brief space of time the velcityvofthecarrier will have diminished, so that the space displaced byitis completely filled by the air that does not escape through the leak. Equilibrium is therefore restored, and though the carrier continues on its way at diminished velocity the dis-A turbance caused. by the passing of the leak gradually dies out. v

Irregularities, rough places, shoulders between joints, dtc., all tend' to retard the pas sage of the carrier, causing a momentary rarefaction ahead of it and compression behind it. These disturbances travel in the form of waves in their respective directions,

and the one reaching the terminal at which' the instrument is located impresses a recordl upon vthe photographic lm.

It will be seen that the disturbance caused by an obstruction is opposite in character to that caused byaleak, so that there is no difliculty in distinguishing between the records produced in the two.

The rate of the speed of the carrier being known, it is obvious that the position of the carrier in the tube at the time when an irregularity in the vibrations recorded occurs will be nicely indicated on the diagram by reference to the line of dots P. There is also a still lnore refined method of determining the location of the carrier at the instant when it passes a leak, as indicated by the photographic record, as follows: When the carrier passes the leak, a disturbance is sent traveling down the tube in both directions with the velocity of sound. The disturbance. reaches the instrument, leaves a record, and is reiiected back through the tube again after the manner of echoes. Upon striking the carrier the disturbance undergoes a second reflection and is again sent traveling forward toward the instrument. In this way every disturbance produces from two to seven distinct records at time intervals, being a function of the distance between the instrument and the carrier and the speed of sound. The velocity of sound under the given condition being known, the distance from the instrument to the leak may be computed with a high degree of accuracy, the motion of the carrier being eliminated mathematically.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a device for ascertaining the condition of the interior of pipe-conduits, a diaphragm separating two chambers, as CX BX, connections from each of said chambers to the pipe-conduit, one of said connections being provided with a means for creating an inequality between the force with which impulses from a single origin strike upon the two sides of the diaphragm and means of conveying to the senses the vibrations of the diaphragm.

2. In a device for ascertaining the condition of the interior of pipe-conduits, a diaphragm separating two chambers as CX BX, connections from each of said chambers to the pipe-conduit, said connections being of different volumetric capacity in order that impulses from a single origin may strike upon the two sides of the diaphragm with unequal force, owing to the greater cushioning in the connection having the greater volume and means for conveying to the senses the vibrations of the diaphragm.

3. In a device for ascertaining the condition of the interior of pipe-conduits, a diaphragm separating two chambers, as C BX, connections from each of said chambers to the pipe-conduit, said connections leading into the chambers at diierent angles so that impulses from a single origin may strike upon 'the two sides of the diaphragm with unequal force owing tothe dierent degrees of obliquity and means for conveying to the senses the vibrations of the diaphragm.

4. In a device for ascertaining the condition of the interior of pipe-conduits, a diaphragm separating two chambers, as OX BX, a pipe, as C, having branches, as C C2, connecting with the two chambers respectively, said pipe being adapted to connect with the pipe-conduit and means for conveying to the senses the vibrations of the diaphragm.

`5. In a device for ascertaining the condition of the interior of pipe-conduits, a diaphragm separating two chambers, as CX BX, a pipe, as O, having branches, as C C2, connecting with the two chambers respectively, said pipe being adapted to connect with the pipe-conduit, a regulating device, as cock C3, situated in one of the branches, and means for conveying to the senses the vibrations of the diaphragm.

6. In a device for ascertaining and recording the condition of the interior of pipe-conduits, a diaphragm arranged in position to be vibrated by vibrations in the air column in the conduit, in combination with a mirror connected to and vibrated by the diaphragm, a stationary reflector, a lamp arranged to throw a ray of light on the mirror and stationary. reflector, a photographic film and means for moving the same and a film-casing having a slot through which the light rays refiected from the mirror and reflector are thrown on the Iilm.

7. In a device for ascertaining and recording the condition of the interior of pipe-conduits, a diaphragm arranged in position to be vibrated by vibrations in the air column in the conduit, in combination with a mirror connected to and vibrated by the diaphragm, a stationary plate of glass arranged in front ofthe mirror, a lamp arranged to throw a ray of light through the glass plate on the mirror, a photographic film and means for moving the same and a lm-casing having a slot through which the light-rays reflected from the glass plate and from the mirror are thrown on the ilm.

KENNETH E. STUART.

Witnesses:

CHAS. F. MYERS,

D. STEWART.

ICO

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